Social assistance data set to get privacy protection

Applicants for social assistance are required to provide true and accurate information, which will receive enhanced protection under a draft law currently being reviewed by Chinese lawmakers.

The draft law on social assistance was submitted to the ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislative body, on Wednesday for further review. It includes new and refined provisions concerning privacy protection.

While specifying that applicants should report information "related to social assistance", such as personal details of family members living with them, household income, assets, and essential expenditures, the draft law clarifies that applicants must also consent to the verification of this information by social assistance management authorities.

Luo Yuan, an official from the NPC's Constitution and Law Committee, emphasized the importance of personal data protection, explaining that the draft has been refined to address concerns arising from the need to collect and use large amounts of personal data during the review and disclosure processes. "If mishandled, this data could pose risks to privacy and personal information rights," he said.

"To address this, we've established intensified personal information protection as a core principle in the draft's first chapter," he added.

Additionally, the draft states that individuals who illegally access personal information unrelated to social assistance applications, or who disclose, sell, or illegally share personal privacy or data, will face penalties. Furthermore, it highlights that staff members who intentionally or through gross negligence cause serious consequences will be subject to severe disciplinary measures.

"Considering that social assistance is no longer limited to material support, the draft also encourages the country to provide care services and daily living services to applicants, so as to provide legal backing for service-oriented forms of assistance," Luo said.

Prior to these enhancements, the draft law had been reviewed by the NPC Standing Committee for the first time in June, seeking to extend coverage beyond current beneficiaries such as extremely poor households and those receiving minimum living allowances.

At that time, Civil Affairs Minister Lu Zhiyuan said that formulating the law aims to resolve new challenges in the social assistance system amid socioeconomic development efforts, thereby making assistance more efficient, accessible, and timely.

He noted that the legislation also intends to streamline the verification process for applicants and increase public participation in social assistance efforts, including contributions from residents, businesses, and nonprofit organizations.

China introduced interim measures for social assistance in 2014, which have played a significant role in promoting social equity and stability, according to him.